Still



W. D. RIAL.

STILL.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I3, 1919.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3, 191.9.

W. D. RIAL.

STILL.

PatentedSept. 13, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a u o a 'mi n vwewtoz OFFE WIRT D. RIAL, OF PONCA CITY, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR TO MARLAND REFINING COMPANY, OF PONGA CITY, OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION 0F OKLAHOMA.

STILL.

Sp'eication of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 13, 192.1,

'Application led November 13, 1919. Serial No. 337,722.

To all whom if may conce-M1:

Be it known that I. IVIRT D. RIAL. a citizen of the nited States. residing at Ponca City, in the county of Kay and State of -Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stills and more particularly to stills especially adapted for cracking hydro-carbons such as petroleum distillates although it is to be understood that, in. its broader aspect, the invention is susceptible to various uses.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved still permit-- ting a more automatic system of operation.

Another object is to provide a new and better means of scrubbing the bottom of the still.

A further object is to provide a still of the above character with various safety devices thereby making a more effective and safer apparatus for the treating of hydrocarbons.

A further object is to provide a semi-continuous re-run process which may be carried on under pressure and simultaneously continuously wash the bottom of the still, thereby keeping the same free from coke form` ing matter settling on the bottom of the still.

A further object is to provide means for relieving the pressure within the still and to equip the still with certain attachments and automatic valves whereby the pressure within the still is prevented from reaching a dangerous degree and at the same time prevent loss by the escape of gases or the like through such relief devices.

These, and other objects which will appear obvious from the following specification, will be more clearly set forth and described. in connection with the accompanying sheetof drawings wherein such parts of a system are shown as to fully understand the present invention.

In these drawings, wherein likel reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic sectional elevational view of the complete system.

Fig. 2 is a semi-diagrammatic plan view of the system shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in section or broken away for the sake of clearness. l,

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3 3. Fig. 1.

In these drawings l denotes the still proper which is adapted to be filled with approximately 12,00() gallons of petroleum distillate at a temperature of F. The still may be charged through a pipe 2 which 1s equlpped with a swinging joint ianged into a manhole 3 during the charging, therei by to eliminate the possibility of igniting the gases by any sparks which might be caused by sudden impact of two metals. After the still is charged the pipe 2 is swung back through the arc 4 out of the way and the manhole 3 securely closed. Heat is applied to the under side of the still as by means of a fire box 5 and oil burners 6 as' diagrammatically shown.

At the same time a motor driven centrifu gal pump 7 is started. This pump is especially adapted to handle hot oils at a temperature of approximately 800o F. and takes, by suction, out of the bottom of the still through a line 8, and discharges the same through a coil 9 connected with a discharge line 10 and branch pipes 11. The

'branch pipes 11 enter the coil through three headers from each of which branch several smaller lateral pipes perforated along their under sides with small closely adjacent holes. By using three headers the liquid is equally distributed. The coil may be supported about two inches from the bottom of the still as by means of chains 12. The line 10 is preferably supported from the top of the still by iron straps 13 welded to the interior of the surface of the still. By sprayi still would cause a hole to be burned in the fire'sheet which condition would obviously be a serious menace to life and property.

The coil 9 is connected t-o the pipes 11 bymeans of anges 14 which may be unboltedand the pipes 11 swung upwardly lout of the way when desired or they may also be provided with hooks secured to the top of the' inside of the still whereby the coil 9 may be raised by a chain hoist, thereby allowing the carbon deposit to be removed from the lootl adapted to keep the valve closed until the predetermined pressure is reached.` 'Tn case gf breakage of this valve a second valve 6 may be closed and the pressure on the p still regulated by a further valve 17.

Tn operation the vapor passes from the still 1 through the line 18 to the towers 19, 20, 21' "Ltld 22 in each-of which 'a certain amount. of. the vapor is condensed and trapped back to the still through a trap back line 23 connecting with the bottom of each tower. This line is yalways sealed with liquid thereby preventing vapors from escaping therethrough. Atthe predetermined pressure the vapors in the tower 22y are re-V leased by 4the automatic valve 15 through a line 24 into a separating tower 25. This tower is equippedwith shutters at the top and bottom to regulate the air passing through the tubes .gthereby regulating the condensation within this tower. The condensing separates the gasolene fractions from the gas oil fractions which latter pass ofi' as a liquid through a back trap line 26 into a coil incondenser box 27. The gasolene fractions pass off .as a vapor through a vapor line 28 coming out near the top of tower 25 and leading into avseparate and larger coil in the condenser box. The condenser box 27 is equipped withtwo separate coils placed side by side, the back trap coil containing about one-third of the total cooling surface in the box and the coil for vapor containing about two thirds of the total cooling surface.

To take care of any excess pressure on the still which might be caused by negligence on 2,9 is preferably placed on the tower 22 and4 the part of the-operator a. large safety valve set at 125 pounds per square inch. This valve A also releases into tower 25 through the line 24 so that none of the vapors escaping from either of the valves 15'or 29 are lost to, the atmosphere.' This positively eliminates any chances of fire which might be caused by releasing the vapors at this high temperature into the open air.' j The process maybe continued until a distlllation of approximately of the total charge has taken operated'as a continuous process, being fed at the rate ofjve barrels per hour through a separate feed line30.

The tower 19 is divided into three horizontal compartments as indicated, the central compartment forming a chamber around vertical tubes, as shown, the chamber being lled'with the liquid passing through the line` Landes@ place. The still is then 30 while the vapors pass through the tubes. The liquid around the tubes in the tower 19 acts as a .vapor heat interchanger whereby the liquid tively high temperature. The still is continuous in operation as described, being recharged until an additional 12,000 gallons has been taken into the still, 50% of the inlowing liquid being vaporized.

`When this continuous charging has been completed the valve 17 and tower 22 are opened and the pressure on the still reduced to approximately 20 lbs. per square inch through the line 24 and tower 25.*- The; residue or fuel oil in the still is pumped out through line 31 which goes down to within an inch of the bottom of the still. This completes the cycle of operation which requires approximately seventy-two hours time.

T am aware that the prior art discloses certain machines and processes for treating or cracking hydro-carbons such as petroleum distillates, but not to my knowledge has there been used a process or apparatus for scrub- ...hing the bottom of the still in the manner fed to the still is raised to a relaherein shown and described nor have the stills been provided with the automatic safety devices adapted to relieve the pressure at a predetermined point without permitting the escape of the exhaustrgases or vapors to the atmosphere.

From the above it will be seen that the present apparatus provides a simple and practical means for accomplishing, among others, all of the objects and advantages herein set forth.

What 1 claim is:

LLTn-an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a still, means adapted to preventsubstances settling on the bottom thereof and to aord unobstructed access to such bottom, said means comprising a pump, a circulating system connected with sald pump, means within the still and adjustable toward and away from the bottom thereof and in circuit-,with said circulating system for discharging the liquid against the bottom of the still and adapted to be swung up away from said bottomto aiford `access thereto.

2. Tn an apparatus of the'character described, in combination, a Still, and means adapted to prevent substances settling on the bottom thereof comprising a pipe suspended :from the upper part of the still carrying a plurality of headers flexibly r supported closely adjacent the bottom of the still, and a plurality of lateral pipes having perforawithin the still is drawn therefrom and discharged down through said perforatipns.

3. Tn an apparatus of the character described. in combination, a still and means adapted to prevent substances .settling on the bottom thereof, comprising a vcentral longitions on their under sides whereby the liquid,V

tudinal pipe support from the upper part of thevstill, a plurality of branch pipes depending therefrom, said branch pipes each having a vplurality of perforated lateral extensions and means for withdrawing the fluid within the still and discharging the same downwardly through'said perforated lateral exterions thereby toscrub the bottom of the sti l 4. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a still, a plurality of towers, a relief valve in one of said'towers,

and a plurality of valves exterior of said tower, all of said valves being adapted todischarge within the system and to open under successively increasing pressure, and means for condensing the exhaust gases onv the opening of any of said valves.

In.tesi;im0ny whereof I affixA my signature in the presence of-Lwo witnesses.

WIRT D. RIAL. Witnesses:

J. R. Co'rTlNGHAM, H. L. MGCRACKEN. 

